YearToAvoid

2025 Subaru Outback Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#10 most-complained of 16 Outback years

The 2025 Subaru Outback has a Complaint Index of 40 and ranks 10th worst out of 16 model years, earning a "Good" verdict. It has 81 complaints, 0 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls so far.

Complaints
81
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
5 / 2
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
25
22 city / 29 hwy

Top 2025 Subaru Outback problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Collision Avoidance & Cameras23 (28%)
  2. Other20 (25%)
  3. Electrical System16 (20%)
  4. Lane Departure14 (17%)
  5. Engine8 (10%)
  6. Brakes6 (7%)
  7. Steering6 (7%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers6 (7%)
  9. Airbags5 (6%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain4 (5%)

What owners report

  • Some drivers report unforced acceleration where the car sped up on its own while easing to a stop, in one case causing a crash.
  • Owners describe the pre-collision warning system activating with no obstacle present, including once in front of a semi truck.
  • One owner reported unintended acceleration after a stop sign, with no warning light illuminated, that recurred with a different driver.
  • An owner described the vehicle remotely started via the Subaru app rolling down a hill and over an embankment while in park.
  • Some drivers report brakes applying at low and high speeds with nothing in front of the car, especially on highways.
  • Owners report the passenger airbag "off" indicator failing to switch to "on" for lighter occupants as expected.
2025 Subaru Outback complaints: complaints filed per month12Nov 2024Mar 2025Jun 2025Sep 2025Dec 2025Mar 2026Jun 2026Sep 2026
119 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2024 to Sep 2026; peak Feb 2026 (12).

2025 Subaru Outback recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2025 Subaru Outback fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,600
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2025 compared with other Outback years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2023Best089225
2024Good33102025
2025Good4081025

All Subaru Outback years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2025 Subaru Outback reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2025 Outback has a Complaint Index of 40 and ranks 10th worst of 16 model years, giving it a "Good" verdict relative to other Outback years.
Does the 2025 Subaru Outback have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2025 Subaru Outback, including 0 do-not-drive recalls.
What is the top complaint area for the 2025 Subaru Outback?
Collision Avoidance & Cameras is the top problem area, with 23 complaints making up 28% of all complaints, and 4 associated crashes.
How does the 2025 Outback compare to other bad Outback years?
The 2025 Outback's Complaint Index of 40 is well below the worst years, such as 2019 (100), 2017 (87), and 2020 (93), all rated "Avoid."
What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Subaru Outback?
EPA rates the 2025 Outback at 25 mpg combined (22 city / 29 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,600.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.